Is alcohol ban lifted? Contradicting statements by liquor stores association, ministry

A liquor shop owner in Tokat posted this photo on Twitter, saying that he was forced by police to cover the shelves that contain alcoholic beverages.

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An association of liquor stores has announced that the ban on alcoholic beverage sales during the lockdown has been lifted while the Interior Ministry has said that "Unofficial statements shouldn't be given credit to."

As part of a 17-day lockdown started late yesterday (April 29), liquor stores will be closed and grocery stores will not be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages, Interior Minister süleyman Soylu previously said.

While a ministry circular specifying the conditions of the lockdown does not list liquor stores as exempted businesses, it makes no mention of alcoholic beverage sales in grocery stores.

Yet the minister said on Wednesday (April 28) that the weekend curfew rules, which bans grocery stores from selling alcoholic beverages, would also apply to the 17-day lockdown.

The ban has drawn criticism for being "politically motivated."

The Ankara Bar Association applied to the Council of State, demanding the annulment of the ban.

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The chair of the Liquor Stores Platform of Turkey (TTBP), Özgür Aybaş, said today on Twitter that the ban had been lifted.

After some liquor store owners responded to him, saying that the ban was continuing, he posted another tweet: "Currently, they are forcing liquor stores to shut down. Alcohol sales are allowed in grocery chains, there is pressure on small businesses, liquor stores."

Citing a statement by the Confederation of Merchants and Artisans of Turkey (TESK), he said there was no ban in place.

The Interior Ministry released a statement on Twitter, saying that unofficial statements shouldn't be given credit to. It also said it would take legal action concerning "deliberate misinformation during the lockdown."

"A legal product can't be illegally prohibited"

Making a statement yesterday, TESK Chair Bendevi Palandöken pointed out that the ministry circular did not include a provision about an alcohol ban.

"We don't expect common sense, tolerance or statements in a religious context by government officials. A product the sale of which is legal can't be prohibited illegally," he said. "What will we do? Implement a ban because 'there is no legal regulation but there is a ban'?"

"We reviewed the legislation, couldn't see the ban. Naturally, we'll continue selling. If a circular is published concerning a ban and we receive a notice, then we'll do what is necessary and tell our organization that 'A ban has been imposed, don't sell'."

The ban has also caused public outrage on social media with the "Don't touch my alcohol" (#alkolümedokunma) hashtag becoming a trending topic.

Many social media users, as well as opposition politicians, said the ban had nothing to do with the pandemic and the government used it as an excuse to interfere with the people's lifestyles. (DŞ/VK)